"But if any one shall set
himself in comparison, I say, not with the power. but with the
innocence of Christ, and (I would not say) in thinking that he
is healing the sins of others, but at least that he has no sins
of his own, even so far is his avidity overstepping the
requirements of the method of salvation; it is a matter of
considerable moment for him, only he attains not his desire."

"Let us, brethren, let us
understand, and may the Lord enable us to understand, and enable
us also to do what we understand. And if we know this, we know
of a truth what the Lord doeth; for it is only the Lord that so
enables us, and by such means only do we attain to His
friendship."

"For who can truly rejoice
who loves not good as the source of his joy? Who can have true
peace, if he have it not with one whom he truly loves? Who can
be long-enduring through persevering continuance in good, save
through fervent love? Who can be kind, if he love not the person
he is aiding? Who can be good, if he is not made so by loving?
Who can be sound in the faith, without that faith which worketh
by love? Whose meekness can be beneficial in character, if not
regulated by love? And who will abstain from that which is
debasing, if he love not that which dignifies?"

"The love of the Father
towards the Son, and of the Son towards us, and of us toward God and
our neighbour, are joined together with an inseparable knot: and
there is nothing more sweet and pleasant than it is."

"Not that God's choosing us is a panacea, as if none of the difficulties of this life matter. Rather, knowing that God has chosen us, loves us, and will use us gives us the courage to face the challenges and renews our strength to do something about them."

Commentary,
John 15:9-17, James Boyce, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.

"If last Sunday's lesson ended on the note of disciples glorifying God the Father through the bearing of "much fruit," then in this Sunday's continuation that fruit fairly bursts open as a veritable flood in the exercise of love."

Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours,
John 15:9-17, David Ewart, 2012.

"So as we look around church on
any given Sunday, we may see people that we know and like, know and
don't like, or don't know at all. Whatever. Jesus is commanding us
to look out for each other's good, so that we might bear fruit,
fruit that endures."

"Perhaps the vine image was
wider than that with its image of fruit bearing, but a major crisis
was developing within John?s community which needed Jesus?
instruction and his prayer - or, at least, the members needed to
hear what Jesus would have prayed. The unity was not
?airy-fairy?, but relational and practical."

"Abiding in Christ (verses
4-8) stressed belief, dependence, and endurance. The emphasis in
verses 9-25 is on obedience. This is ?how? we abide in
Christ?s love: ?If you keep My commandments, you will abide in
My love; just as I have kept My Father?s commandments, and abide
in His Love? (John 15:10)."

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